Grewal was born in Hong Kong, but spent most of his childhood in his ancestral village of Ballowal in Ludhiana District, Punjab. He initially attended primary school in the village, but later continued his schooling at Sir Ellis Kadoorie School when his family returned to Hong Kong in 1947. There, Grewal went on to attend King's College for his secondary education, and began his tertiary studies in 1956 at the University of Hong Kong. He graduated with a BA in English in 1959 and completed a diploma in education the following year. Grewal then went on to England, where he studied at the University of Cambridge for two years before returning in 1962.
Grewal is an avid field hockey fan, and in his younger days represented Hong Kong as a player at the international level, with the high points being the 1962 Asian Games in Djakarta (now Jakarta), the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok (1966), and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He was an active member of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) from 1963 to 1984 when he retired with the rank of Major. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Regiment in 1987 and served in that capacity until 1990.
Career with the Hong Kong government
Grewal initially taught at Queen's College, Hong Kong from 1962 to 1964. When the Government was recruiting administrative officers for the 1964 intake, he applied and was taken on. Grewal served in various posts over the years, including that of District Officer Taipo (1970–1973), Deputy Director of Urban Services (New Territories) (1976–1980), and Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service (1980–1984). He was appointed Commissioner of Customs and Excise in 1984, followed by his appointment as Secretary for Transport in 1986. He took on the portfolio of the Secretary for the Civil Service in early 1987 and held that position for just under three years. He retired in 1990.[1]
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